Offseason In Review: Green Bay Packers

This time around, the Packers ensured they would retain some notable players for the foreseeable future. After years of touting one of the deeper receivers rooms in the NFL, the organization saw Doubs leave via free agency and Dontayvion Wicks get shipped out via trade. That left Christian Watson and Jayden Reed as the two most experienced receivers on the depth chart, and the front office made an effort to make sure they’ll be playing alongside Jordan Love for years to come.

Watson hasn’t necessarily lived up to his second-round billing through four years in the NFL, but he has shown plenty of flashes. The Packers had given Watson a one-year, $11MM extension in 2025 — one agreed to during the North Dakota State alum’s ACL rehab — but they saw enough to provide a lucrative third contract.

From a per-game perspective, the deep threat had arguably his most productive showing last season. After sitting out the first chunk of the year while recovering from the ACL tear, Watson averaged more than 60 yards per game in his 10 appearances. The 27-year-old’s health remains a major question mark, and there’s a good chance he’s already shown his absolute ceiling. But with an AAV that barely cracks the top 25 at his position, the extension doesn’t offer the same risks as your standard WR1 contracts.

Reed appeared to be developing into a WR1 role through his first two NFL seasons, when he averaged 825 yards per year. An early-season collarbone injury sidelined him for most of the 2026 campaign, leading to him finishing with only 19 catches for 207 yards. The Packers can easily chalk that up to injury, and with an AAV that’s only 34th at the position, the organization doesn’t necessarily need Reed to take a leap in order to justify the pay raise.

It is worth wondering if Reed would have been better off betting on himself and testing free agency in 2027. He had been a more productive player than Doubs during his first two seasons, and the latter received $17MM per year (from the Patriots) this offseason. Another cap spike could have vaulted Reed past that point. Instead, he agreed to what looks like a team-friendly deal coming off a two-injury 2025. Reed’s contract checks in behind Titans slot receiver Wan’Dale Robinson but well in front of Bills slot Khalil Shakir.

Drafted in the 2023 second round, Reed led the Pack in receiving yards as a rookie and again in 2024. The slot receiver, however, had expressed concerns about his future — as the Packers continued to load up at receiver in 2025. The team resolved those but saw Reed suffer a fractured foot leading up to the 2025 season. Once the collarbone break occurred, it gave the playmaker a chance to address both issues. Reed underwent clavicle and foot surgeries, extending his return timetable. After returning late last season, though, the fourth-year veteran has enjoyed a healthy 2026.

The Packers were also active extending players on the defensive side of the ball. 2022 first-round pick Devonte Wyatt has seen inconsistent playing time through his four years in the NFL, and he hasn’t provided the three-down production that the front office was surely hoping for.

However, he’s still displayed some impressive pass-rushing prowess from the interior defensive line, collecting 14.5 sacks over the past three seasons. With a DL market that’s now easily exceeded $20MM, Wyatt’s $19MM AAV represents a relatively low-risk move for the organization.

Finally, the Packers made sure to lock in one of their key defensive pieces in Isaiah McDuffie. The former sixth-round pick has evolved into a full-time starter for Green Bay, starting 29 of his 34 appearances over the past two years. McDuffie was already playing a pseudo-secondary role in 2025, serving as a rotational piece behind Edgerrin Cooper and Quay Walker. Zaire Franklin was brought in to soak up the latter’s snaps, meaning McDuffie is likely trending towards a similar backup role in 2026.

Lastly, the Packers’ last-ditch effort to extend Kraft before the season crossed the goal line. The sides agreed to terms a day before Week 1, and Kraft is now among the NFL’s highest-paid tight ends. The Packers were, however, able to convince the former Division I-FCS prospect to accept a deal that did not top the market.

Kraft’s AAV checks in at $18.75MM, which sits behind George Kittle and Trey McBride’s 2025 deals. Considering Kraft’s importance to Green Bay’s offense and the cap rising by another $20MM-plus this offseason, it stood to reason he would be the NFL’s first $20MM-per-year TE. This market remains curiously stuck south of that point, while every position except specialty jobs have crossed that barrier.

The Packers drafted two tight ends on Day 2 of the 2023 draft, and they have seen the third-rounder outplay second-rounder Luke Musgrave. Coming out of South Dakota State, Kraft has shown steady improvement. He has gone from 20.9 receiving yards per game as a rookie to 41.6 in 2024 to 61.7 last season. Kraft, 25, was on pace to become the first 1,000-yard Packers receiving tight end in franchise history. He was well on pace to eclipse Paul Coffman’s 814 yards from 1983 as the top post-merger Green Bay TE yardage season, but a Week 8 ACL tear ended that effort.

Catching 13 touchdown passes over the past two seasons, Kraft has shown himself to be a dependable weapon for Love. A Kraft extension emerged on the radar in February, and rumors about a deal persisted throughout the offseason. But a report this week pointed to the sides being too far apart to reach an agreement before Week 1. The Packers, however, hammered out a contract with their TE1 and have him tied to the team through the 2030 season.

Trades:

• Acquired LB Zaire Franklin from Colts for DT Colby Wooden
• Traded DL Rashan Gary to Cowboys for 2027 fourth-round pick
• Traded WR Dontayvion Wicks to Eagles for 2026 fifth-round pick, 2027 sixth-rounder
• Traded QB Kyle McCord to Dolphins for 2028 sixth-round pick
• Acquired RB Kaleb Johnson from Steelers for 2028 sixth-round pick
• Acquired TE Mark Redman from Rams for 2028 seventh-round pick

The Packers watched as several players departed via free agency, but the organization also bid adieu to some notable names via the trade market.

Rashan Gary’s subtraction didn’t come as a surprise. The veteran still had two years remaining on his four-year, $96MM contract, and after being held without a sack from Week 9 onward, he was mentioned as a cap casualty during the early portion of the offseason.

Instead, the Packers managed to find a taker, as they shipped Gary to the Cowboys for a fourth-round pick. The former first-round pick never hit the All-Pro pinnacle that Green Bay was hoping for when they selected him 12th overall in 2019, but he was still a consistent presence on the edge, compiling 46.5 sacks in 106 appearances for the franchise.

The trade also opened up snaps for former first-round pick Lukas Van Ness, although the fourth-year player will still have to prove he belongs in the starting lineup before Micah Parsons returns. A year after the blockbuster Parsons trade, the Packers helped the Cowboys’ ongoing replacement effort by sending them Gary, who accepted a pay cut to facilitate the move.

Green Bay’s decision to move on from Dontayvion Wicks wasn’t necessarily motivated by the cap, as the former fifth-round pick only provided the team around $2.5MM in breathing room. Instead, the team seemed to prioritize extensions with Christian Watson and Jayden Reed, and with Wicks entering the final season of his rookie contract, the Packers decided to recoup a pair of late-round picks in return.

Wicks never truly emerged as a top-end threat during his tenure with the organization, as his 581 receiving yards as a rookie still represents a career high. With Watson, Reed, and former first-round pick Matthew Golden penciled in atop the depth chart, Wicks wasn’t likely to see an increased offensive role ahead of free agency. The Eagles reunited Wicks with Sean Mannion, hired as OC after he served as Matt LaFleur’s QBs coach in Green Bay, and the deal helped the team rebuild its receiving corps ahead of a long-expected A.J. Brown trade. Wicks agreed to a one-year, $10.25MM extension with the Eagles post-trade.

Of course, the Packers didn’t only use the trade market to subtract from their squad. They also used it as a way to add to their lineup, as they acquired Zaire Franklin to anchor the middle of their linebacking corps.

The longtime Colts defender had the best season of his career in 2024, earning an All-Pro nod after pacing the NFL with 173 tackles. He “only” finished the 2025 campaign with 125 stops, but more notably, Pro Football Focus ranked him as the second-worst qualified linebacker in the sport. Part of the Colts’ impact 2018 draft class, Franklin did not seem as good of a fit in Lou Anarumo’s defensive scheme last season.

Still, with Quay Walker heading out the door, the Packers wanted some veteran reinforcement at the position, and it only cost them a part-time player in Colby Wooden. The former fourth-round pick did emerge as a starter for Green Bay in 2025, but with only one season remaining on his rookie pact (plus the impending addition of Javon Hargrave), the team decided to use Wooden as a chip to shore up a position of need. Wooden did not make the Colts’ 53-man roster and ended up with the Saints as a waiver claim.

Franklin had been tied to a three-year, $31.26MM Colts extension that ran through 2027. The Packers reworked the deal upon trading for the ninth-year linebacker, who is now on a two-year, $18MM pact. Franklin received fresh guarantees for 2026 as part of the agreement.

The rest of the Packers’ trades involved players destined for depth roles in 2026. Mark Redman was squeezed out of a deep Rams TEs room and will play a special teams role in Green Bay. Kaleb Johnson flamed out in Pittsburgh but will provide the Packers with some extra RB depth as the team navigates Josh Jacobs’ absence. And the team moved on from Kyle McCord, whose chances of replacing Malik Willis as the QB2 were greatly reduced when the Packers brought in veteran Tyrod Taylor.

Free agency additions:

• Javon Hargrave, DL. Two years, $23MM ($10.5MM guaranteed)
• Benjamin St-Juste, CB. Two years, $10MM ($3MM guaranteed)
• Skyy Moore, WR. One year, $2.5MM ($1MM guaranteed)
• Tyrod Taylor, QB. One year, $2.5MM ($700K guaranteed)
• Jonnu Smith, TE. One year, $2MM ($350K guaranteed)

The Packers made some notable free agency swings in each of the past two offseasons, with safety Xavier McKinney and running back Josh Jacobs joining in 2024 before guard Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs were signed last year. Following that spending (plus the major financial commitment to Micah Parsons), Green Bay wasn’t expected to be nearly as active in free agency in 2026. That proved to be true.

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Among the team’s free agent additions, only one earned more than $10MM: defensive lineman Javon Hargrave, who will reunite with new Packers DC (and former Super Bowl LVII Eagles defensive boss) Jonathan Gannon.

While the veteran has been a cap casualty at each of his last two stops (San Francisco, Minnesota), he’s still proven to be plenty productive when he’s been on the field. Hargrave tallied 25.5 total sacks between the 2021 and 2023 seasons, and after being limited to only three appearances in 2024 thanks to a triceps injury, he rebounded with a 16-game, 3.5-sack showing with the Vikings in 2025.

He’ll slide right into the middle of the Packers’ defensive line, but perhaps more importantly, he’ll also help instill a winning culture in the locker room. While the 33-year-old doesn’t have a Super Bowl ring on his resume, he has experienced a pair of Super Bowl losses during his stints with the Eagles and 49ers.

The rest of the team’s free agent additions will see secondary roles in Green Bay in 2026. After emerging as a part-time starter in Washington, Benjamin St-Juste reverted back to a depth role with the Chargers in 2025. He still proved to be plenty capable in the secondary, and he’ll provide the organization with some positional depth behind Keisean Nixon, Brandon Cisse, and Carrington Valentine in 2026.

Return specialist Skyy Moore is coming off an 87-yard receiving season in San Francisco, but considering the Packers’ subtractions in their WRs room, he could end up playing a role on offense in 2026. The team is hoping Tyrod Taylor won’t see the field, although (even at 37) he represents one of the more talented QB2s in the NFL. It’s a similar sentiment with Jonnu Smith, although the Packers may be temporarily dependent on the veteran considering the uncertain availability of Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave.

Re-signings:

• Sean Rhyan, OL. Three years, $33MM ($11MM guaranteed)

The Packers seemed destined to lose many of their impending free agents. However, the Packers did manage to hang on to one key player.

Rhyan was a third-round pick by the Packers in 2022, but he didn’t see significant playing time until the 2024 campaign. The guard started all 17 of his appearances in 2024, but he lost his grip on the starting RG job early in the 2025 campaign. 2024 first-rounder Jordan Morgan displaced him, but with Elgton Jenkins later suffering an injury, Rhyan was suddenly thrust into the pivot.

While Rhyan didn’t necessarily grade out all that well at the position, Brian Gutekunst seemed optimistic about his future at the position. The 25-year-old is penciled in for that role in 2026, and the Packers can at least rest easy knowing that he provides enough positional versatility to justify the new contract.

Notable losses:

• Zayne Anderson, S
• Trevon Diggs, CB (released)
• Romeo Doubs, WR
• Kingsley Enagbare, EDGE
• Elgton Jenkins, OL (released)
• John FitzPatrick, TE
• Nate Hobbs, CB (released)
• Brandon McManus, K (released)
• Desmond Ridder, QB (released)
• Nazir Stackhouse, DL
• Quay Walker, LB
• Rasheed Walker, OT
• Malik Willis, QB
• Emanuel Wilson, RB

The Packers entered the offseason over the cap, meaning an offseason exodus seemed likely. That ended up coming to fruition, as the organization watched as several notable players left via free agency.

Green Bay lost several key pieces on offense. Elgton Jenkins was a predictable departure; his release opened more than $19MM in cap space, and he was still recovering from a leg fracture that ended his 2025 campaign. Still, the former second-round pick proved to be a remarkably versatile piece during his seven years in Green Bay, where he booked Pro Bowl accolades at guard and played extended stretches at both left and right tackle.

Jenkins was moved to center in 2025 and was plenty serviceable, ranking 22nd among 37 qualifying players at the position on Pro Football Focus. If his salary wasn’t a concern, he likely would have returned to the Packers in 2026. The Browns gave Jenkins a two-year, $24MM deal soon after his Wisconsin exit.

Rasheed Walker was a key find by the Packers’ front office, as the former seventh-round pick was a consistent LT starter between 2023 and 2025. Pro Football Focus was never a huge fan of his production, generally ranking him as a middle-of-the-road offensive tackle. However, he didn’t miss a game during that three-year stretch, a positive considering Green Bay’s ever-changing offensive line.

Walker ended up settling for a one-year, $4MM deal with the Panthers, a contract that obviously wouldn’t have broken the bank for the Packers. Green Bay was clearly intent on trying 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan — who had been unable to find a starting role over his first two seasons — as its full-time LT, and considering the team’s cap considerations, Walker was allowed to hit the market.

Barring a significant discount, Romeo Doubs always seemed destined to leave Green Bay this offseason. The wideout was productive through his four years in Green Bay, culminating in a 2025 campaign when he finished with a career-high 724 receiving yards. The Packers already had plenty of depth at the WR position, and considering their cap issues, it seemed unlikely they’d dish out the necessary money to retain their former fourth-round pick. Indeed, Doubs ended up inking a lucrative contract with the Patriots.

The organization also lost some notable offensive depth via free agency. Malik Willis filled in admirably for Jordan Love during his two-year stint in Green Bay, winning a pair of games while tossing six touchdowns vs. zero interceptions. That was enough to earn him a three-year, $67.5MM deal ($45MM fully guaranteed) from the Dolphins, but the Packers quickly managed to pivot to another capable QB2 in Tyrod Taylor.

John FitzPatrick received dplenty of run as a blocking TE in 2025, while Emanuel Wilson spent two seasons as a productive backup to Josh Jacobs.

The team won’t be feeling its defensive departures nearly as much. Quay Walker looked to be headed elsewhere — even though Gutekunst had expressed interest in a second contract — when the team declined his fifth-year option in 2025. The Pack quickly pivoted to Zaire Franklin as their new MLB.

While Walker never emerged as a franchise stalwart, he did fill the box score during his four years in Green Bay, tallying 469 tackles and nine sacks. Pro Football Focus traditionally ranked him toward the bottom of their LB rankings, and the Packers seemed to share a similar sentiment about his actual on-the-field contributions. Still, his stat sheet was enough to earn him a four-year, $40.5MM contract with the Raiders in free agency.

Hobbs’ lone season in Green Bay didn’t work out as expected. The veteran cornerback was among the team’s most notable offseason additions in 2025 after inking a four-year, $48MM deal. He ended up playing less than half his team’s defensive snaps in his 11 appearances, with PFF ultimately grading him 59th among 112 qualifying cornerbacks. He missed the postseason after suffering a knee injury that required a stint on injured reserve. The Packers were quick to move on after the season, creating $8.84MM in cap savings vs. $4MM in dead money.

Kingsley Enagbare never emerged as a full-time player in Green Bay, but the former fifth-round pick still had a productive four seasons with the franchise. He tallied 11.5 sacks in 68 career games, including a 2025 campaign where he compiled two sacks and 39 stops in 17 games (three starts). The Packers likely would have brought him back on a low-cost deal, but he ended up taking a one-year, $10MM deal with the Jets in free agency.

The Trevon Diggs experiment didn’t work out in Green Bay. After getting cut by the Cowboys, the veteran cornerback landed with the Packers via waivers. He made two appearances (including playoffs) for his new squad, compiling three tackles. Considering Diggs’ lofty Dallas contract, though, a 2026 release was widely expected. Diggs had to wait around until August to find his next gig with the Seahawks, but he ultimately settled for a practice squad job with his new organization.

Draft:

• Round 2, No. 52: Brandon Cisse (CB, South Carolina) (signed)
• Round 3, No. 77 (from Buccaneers): Chris McClellan (DT, Missouri) (signed)
• Round 4, No. 120: Dani Dennis-Sutton (EDGE, Penn State) (signed)
• Round 5, No. 153 (from Falcons via Eagles): Jager Burton (C, Kentucky) (signed)
• Round 6, No. 201: Domani Jackson (CB, Alabama) (signed)
• Round 6, No. 216 (from Steelers)*: Trey Smack (K, Florida) (signed)

Considering the haul the Packers gave up in the Micah Parsons trade, the team had to navigate the 2026 draft without a first-round pick. Green Bay still managed to leave the weekend with six rookies, and the team may get some immediate contributions from several of those players.

Brandon Cisse allowed catches on only 34.6% of his targets in 2025, and the Packers traded up in the second round to secure the South Carolina product. The Packers have seen some significant changes to their cornerbacks corps in recent offseasons; after cutting Jaire Alexander and letting Eric Stokes leave in free agency in 2025, the team opened this offseason by releasing Nate Hobbs.

We’ll ultimately see how the depth chart shakes out, but it appears as if Cisse will leap Carrington Valentine for the starting role opposite Keisean Nixon in 2026.

The team’s other draft picks are likely heading toward depth roles entering their rookie campaigns. Missouri defensive lineman Chris McClellan could see a role if Devonte Wyatt or Karl Brooks are forced out of the lineup, while Penn State EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton will compete with the likes of Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, and Brenton Cox for reps while Micah Parsons is out of the lineup.

The team did land one last starter late in the draft, when they used a sixth-round selection on Florida kicker Trey Smack. He’ll replace veteran Brandon McManus, who saw his field goal percentage drop from 95.2% during his first year in Green Bay to 80% in 2025.

Other:

• Exercised DE Lukas Van Ness’ $13.75MM fifth-year option
• RB Josh Jacobs arrested, placed on commissioner’s exempt list
• Hired Cam Achord as special teams coordinator

Running back Josh Jacobs was arrested in May and later faced reduced charges of misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property. He subsequently landed on the commissioner’s exempt list, putting his status for the 2026 campaign in doubt.

He recently entered a plea of no contest and won’t face jail time. Still, there’s no timetable regarding a resolution on his exempt list status nor any formal suspension. For the time being, the Packers will roll with a RBs depth chart that consists of MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks, and Kaleb Johnson.

A 2024 third-round pick, Lloyd is expected to lead the way during this foggy Jacobs period. But Lloyd has run into steady hamstring trouble — to the point Sunday’s Vikings matchup will be his second career game.

Van Ness appeared on the option bubble as the May deadline approached, but after the Packers lost Parsons to the ACL tear and traded Gary, the need for EDGE talent became glaring. Despite not showing much statistically during his first three seasons, Van Ness benefited. He secured an eight-figure guarantee based on potential.

The Packers drafted Van Ness out of Iowa, where he famously earned a top-15 draft destination without starting a game. Green Bay has used Van Ness mostly as a backup (two career starts) as well. The 25-year-old edge rusher has 8.5 career sacks; just 1.5 of those came in 2025.

Though, Van Ness ran into injury trouble that limited him to nine games last season. He did add a sack in the Packers’ wild-card game. While exercising this option is risky based on what Van Ness has shown to date, the Packers still clearly believe they were right by selecting him 13th overall three years ago.

The Packers also had to navigate a departure on special teams, as Rich Bisaccia unexpectedly stepped away from his role. The veteran coach spent four years in Green Bay, and the organization ultimately looked outside the organization to replace him. Cameron Achord cut his NFL teeth in New England, where he eventually worked his way up to DC. He caught on with the Giants in 2024, and he spent the past two years serving as the assistant ST coach under Michael Ghobrial.

Top 10 cap charges for 2026:

1. Jordan Love, QB: $36.12MM
2. Micah Parsons, EDGE: $19.20MM
3. Josh Jacobs, RB: $14.52MM
4. Aaron Banks, G: $12.00MM
5. Zach Bako-Bewele, OT: $11.83MM
6. Christian Watson, WR: $10.51MM
7. Xavier McKinney, S: $9.86MM
8. Devonte Wyatt, DL: $8.43MM
9. Javon Hargrave, DL: $7.70MM
10. Keisean Nixon, CB: $7.16MM

The Packers weren’t expected to make major moves this offseason, a premonition that proved to be correct. The team does deserve some credit for locking in a handful of notable contributors and preventing future mass departures. At the same time, it’s uncertain if their offseason moves will greatly alter their outlook in 2026. If the team does hope to take a significant step forward, they’ll be dependent on Jordan Love and the return of Micah Parsons to make it happen.